Plant Protection and Honeybee Acts

Under the Plant Protection Act of 2000, a plant pest is defined as any living stage of any of the following that can directly or indirectly injure, cause damage to, or cause disease in any plant or plant product: a protozoan, nonhuman animal, parasitic plant, bacterium, fungus, virus or viroid, infectious agent or other pathogen, or any article similar to or allied with any of those articles including unidentified organisms associated with infected plant parts. A PPQ permit is required for the importation, domestic movement and environmental release of any living organism that falls within this definition. Regulations on the issuance of permits for plant pests are found in 7 CFR 330.2.

The Plant Protection Act also defined biological control organisms as any enemy, antagonist, or competitor used to control a plant pest or noxious weed. A PPQ permit is consequently required for the importation, domestic movement and environmental release of living organisms that fall within this definition.

Under the Honeybee Act, PPQ regulates the importation of honeybees to prevent the entry of honeybee diseases and parasites, as well as undesirable subspecies of honeybees. PPQ also regulates the importation of other pollinating bees under the Plant Protection Act to prevent the entry of undesirable parasites and diseases, as well as nonindigenous species of bees to prevent undesirable impacts on the pollination of plants. Regulations on the issuance of permits for bees and honey bee products (pollen for bee feed, royal jelly, honey bee germplasm, etc.) are found in 7 CFR 322.